Folding-bed-bottom fabric



June 18; 1929. F, A. AmqN ET AL l.7l7,953'

FOLDING BED BOTTOM FABRIC Filed July 2, 1927 I 2 Sheets-Sheet l V gwwmto o June 1929- v F. A. ADKINS ET AL 1.717.953 I FOLDING BED BOTTOM manic Filed'July 1927 2 Sheets-Shea 2 I a aw 551 a I Patented June 18, 1929.

UNlTEl) STT ES PATET FFECE...

FRANK A. ADKINS, OF CHICAGO, AND NOAH S. HABTER, OF WAUKEG-AN, ILLINOIS,

ASSIGNORS TO CHAMPION FOLDING FURNITURE CGMPANY, OF WAUKEGAI-I, ILLI- NOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

FOLDING-BED-BOTTOM FABRIC.

Application filed July 2, 1927.

This invention relates to a folding fabric bed bottom, adapted for use on folding bed frames, such as that illustrated in our copcnding application Serial Number 206,097; filed July 15, 1927.

The bed bottom comprises a pair of sheet metal end bars of substantial width, each having a flange along one edge for connection to the ends of the bed frame, and a fabric of metal adapted to fold between the end bars. The fabric comprises a plurality of wire strands extending transversely of the bed frame, each strand bent to form a series of relatively long angular loops, opening alternately in opposite directions, and metal bands connecting the closed ends of alternate loops in each strand with the closed ends of alternate loops in an adjacent strand, the loops and bands being of equal length so that the strands and loops will fold into a rectangular pile. Preferably, the loops and bands are slightly less in length than the widths of the end bars so that the end bars will cover the fabric when the latter is folded. The invention also comprises certain details of construction which will hereinafter be pointed out.

In the accompanying drawing,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of the bed bottom, the major portion of the fabric being omitted;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same, showing also portions of the side rails of a bed. frame;

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the end rails, showing the fabric folded;

Fig. at is a top plan view of a port-ion of the fabric and one of the end rails, showing the same on a larger scale than in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 55 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of one of the connecting bandsor links; and,

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary view, showing a portion of one of the end rails.

Referring to the drawing, a and a indicate sheet metal end bars which are alike in all respects, and b indicates the fabric which is connected to said rails. Each end bar comprises a relatively wide bar 1, of sheet metal, having a. right angled flange 2 at one edge and having parts turned under forming beads 3, equally spaced apart along its opposite edge. Slots i are cut partly through the beads, leaving parts 3 which serve as pintles. By this arrangement, either end of the fabric Serial No. 203,166.

may be attached to either bar, as hereinafter described. The flange 2 of each bar has openings 2 near its ends to receive the side rails 3 of the bed frame.

The fabric comprises a plurality of trans verse wire strands c, d, 6, etc., each bent to form a series of loops opening alternately in opposite directions. Thus, the loops of the s and 0 are indicated at 1 and 2, and the loops of the strand (Z are indicated at 1 and 2 The loops are slightly shorter in length than the width of the bar 1, and the. sides 6 of the loops diverge from their closed ends 7. Flat metal bands or links f, of the same length as the loops, connect the closed ends of the alternate loops in each strand with the closed ends of alternate loops in the adjacent strands. These links are formed of sheet metal, their ends being turned under to form eyes 8 (Fig. 6) which enclose the ends of the loops. The loops 3, 3 etc., at the margins of the fabric, have their end portions 6" turned backwardly and connected to their sides 6, in order that the fabric may have a smooth edge, and these end portions 6 are connected by a link f As the marginal loops, such as 3 and 8 are of less width than the other loops in the wires, the marginal links or bands, such as 7, are closer to the adjacent links,such as f, than are the other links in a series to one another. The wire m at one end of the fabric is connected to the bar a by hooking the closed ends of its loops into the eyes formed by the heads 3, and the wire a at the opposite end of the fabric has its loops connected to helical springs 9, which latter are connected to the bar a. As shown, one end 9 of each spring is bent to form a hook and this hook is extended through an eye in a U-shaped clip 10, which'is extended around the closed ends of the loops 2, and the opposite end of each spring has a hook 9" which extends through one of the slots 4: in the bar a and engages the pintle 3. The springs, when relaxed, and their U-shaped connectors 10 are approximately equal in length to the lengths of the wire loops and the connecting links.

WVhen the bed is set up, the fabric is stretched over the ends of the side bars of the bed, as indicated in Fig. 2. lVhen the bed is to be folded, the end bars of the fabric are released from the bed frame and the. springs, wire loops and links are then folded between the end rails, as illustrated in Fig. 3, wherein the springs are shown folded inwardly on the side bar a toward its flange 2; the first strand of wire 0 is folded outwardly, the series of links 7, connecting the strand 0 with the strand (Z, is folded inwardly, and the strand d is folded outwardly, etc. As the loops and links are of equal length, they fold into a rectangular bundle, which is enclosed on three sides by the bars and their flanges.

As the links 7 (Fig. 4) are out of line with the springs 9, they do not interfere with the springs when the cot is folded; but as the marginal links 7' are in line with the marginal springs 9, these latter springs are made of smaller diameter than the springs 9, so that the links f can fold over the marginal springs and lie in the same plane as the links What we claim is:

1. A folding bed bottom comprising relatively wide sheet metal end bars and a fabric connected to said bars, said fabric comprising a plurality of wire strands each bent to form a series of similar loops, opening alternately in opposite directions, and sheet metal links hingedly connecting the closed ends of alternate loops in each strand with the closed ends of alternate loops in an adjacent strand, the loops and links being of the same length and adapted to fold between the bars.

2. A folding bed bottom comprising relatively wide sheet metal end bars, each having a flange at one edge adapted for connection to a bed frame, and a fabric connected to said bars, said fabric comprising a plurality of wire strands each bent to form a series of similar loops, opening alternately in opposite directions, and sheet inetal links hingedly connecting the closed ends of alternate loops in each strand with the closed ends of alternate loops in an adjacent strand, the loops and links being of the same length and adapted to fold between the bars.

3. A folding bed bottom comprising relatively wide sheet metal end bars and a fabric connected to said bars, said fabric comprising a plurality of wire strands each bent to form a series of similar loops, opening alternately in opposite directions, and sheet metal links hingedly connecting the closed ends of alternate loops in each strand with the closed ends of alternate loops in an adjacent strand, the loops and links being of the same length and substantially equal in length to the width gf the bars and adapted to fold between the ars.

4. A folding bed bottom comprising relatively wide sheet metal end bars and a fabric connected to said bars, said fabric comprising a plurality of wire strands each bent to form a series of similar loops, opening alternately in opposite directions, sheet metal links hingedly connecting the closed ends of alternate loops in each strand with the closed ends of alternate loops in an adjacent strand, helical springs connected to one of said bars, and flat metal clips connecting said springs with alternate loops of one of said strands, the loops and links, and the springs with their connecting clips, being of substantially the game length and adapted to fold between the ars.

5. A folding bed bottom comprising relatively wide sheet metal end bars and a fabric comprising a plurality of wire strands each bent to form a series of loops, opening alternately in opposite directions and approximately equal in length to the width of the bars, flat links of the same length as the loops connecting alternate loops of each strand with alternate loops in an adjacent strand, the marginal loops of the fabric being closed at both ends and connected by links, and helical springs connecting alternate loops of one of said strands with one of said bars, the marginal springs being of smaller diameter than the intermediate springs.

6. A folding bed bottom comprising relatively wide sheet metal end bars each having spaced beads along one edge, forming hooks. each hook having a slot extending part way through it, leaving a part forming a pintle,

and a fabric connected to said bars, said fabric comprising wire strands each bent to form a series of loops and links connecting said strands, the alternate loops of one of said strands engaging the hooks on one of said bars, and springs connected to another of said strands, said springs having hooks engaging the pintles on the other bar.

In testimony whereof we hereunto aflix our signatures.

FRANK A. ADKlNS. NOAH S. I-IARTER. 

